U.S. patent number 5,634,681 [Application Number 08/417,817] was granted by the patent office on 1997-06-03 for truck mounted work station.
Invention is credited to Mark S. Gionta.
United States Patent |
5,634,681 |
Gionta |
June 3, 1997 |
Truck mounted work station
Abstract
A truck-mounted work station includes a frame forming an open
rack for tools and supplies, and pivot arms extending from the
frame to support a work table or the like. The work table is
movable with the pivot arms between an elevated storage position
within the width limit of the truck, and a lowered working position
outside and alongside the truck. A torsion spring facilitates
raising and lowering the work table. Spring torsion is adjustable
to suit its load. Up and down travel of the pivot arms is limited
by stops. The work table is secured in its elevated position for
safe travel.
Inventors: |
Gionta; Mark S. (Rochester,
NY) |
Family
ID: |
23655506 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/417,817 |
Filed: |
April 6, 1995 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
296/3; 108/44;
224/405 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60P
3/14 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60P
3/14 (20060101); B60P 003/32 () |
Field of
Search: |
;296/3 ;108/44
;224/403,405 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Pape; Joseph D.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Bird; Robert J.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A work station for the back of an open truck, including:
a frame on the back of said truck;
a pivot arm pivotally connected to said frame and extending
laterally outward therefrom, and including a table support section
at its outer end;
a work table supported on said table support section for movement
with said pivot arm between an elevated storage position within the
width limit of said truck, and a lowered working position outside
and alongside said truck; and
a longitudinal torsion spring operatively connected to said frame
and to said pivot arm to urge said pivot arm toward said elevated
position.
2. A work station for the back of an open truck, including:
a frame on the back of said truck;
first and second pivot arms pivotally connected to said frame and
extending laterally outward therefrom, each said pivot arm
including a table support section at its outer end;
a work table supported on said table support sections for movement
with said pivot arms between an elevated storage position within
the width limit of said truck, and a lowered working position
outside and alongside said truck; and
a longitudinal torsion spring operatively connected to said frame
and to said pivot arms to urge said pivot arms toward said elevated
position.
3. A work station as defined in claim 2, in which the torsion of
said spring is adjustable.
4. A work station as defined in claim 2, further including:
stop means on said frame to limit the vertical movement of said
pivot arms; and
lock means to secure said pivot arms in place relative to said
frame in said elevated position.
5. A work station for the back of an open truck having a bed and a
sidewall, said work station including:
a frame mounted on said bed and forming an open rack extending
laterally over said sidewall;
first and second pivot arms pivotally connected to said frame and
extending laterally outward therefrom, each said pivot arm
including a table support section at its outer end;
a work table supported on said table support sections for movment
with said pivot arms between an elevated storage position within
the width limit of said truck, and a lowered working position
outside and alongside said truck; and
a longitudinal torsion spring operatively connected to said frame
and to said pivot arms to urge said pivot arms toward said elevated
position.
6. A work station as defined in claim 5, in which said work table
includes a brake.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
This invention is a work station, including storage rack and
retractable work table, for the back of an open truck.
2. Background Information and Disclosure under 37 CFR 1.97-1.99
There are various forms of truck racks in the prior art. U.S. Pat.
No. 5,316,190 to Bullock is an example. Bullock discloses a truck
utility rack which is pivoted for movement between a closed
configuration when it is not in use, and an open configuration for
load carrying.
It is an object of this invention to provide a truck mounted work
station with a storage rack for materials, and retractable work
table for use outside and alongside the truck.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A truck-mounted work station according to this invention includes a
frame forming an open rack for tools and supplies, and pivot arms
extending from the frame to support a work table or the like. The
work table is movable with the pivot arms between an elevated
storage position within the width limit of the truck, and a lowered
working position outside and alongside the truck. A torsion spring
connected to the frame and to the pivot arms facilitates raising
and lowering the work table. Spring torsion is adjustable to suit
its load. Up and down travel of the pivot arms is limited by stops.
The work table is secured in its elevated position for safe
travel.
DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of the rear of an open truck, including
a work station according to this invention.
FIG. 2 is a partial rear view of one work station with the work
table in its elevated storage position.
FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2, with the work table in its lowered
working position.
FIGS. 4 and 5 are pictorial views of the apparatus of FIGS. 2 and 3
respectively.
FIGS. 6 and 7 are similar to FIGS. 4 and 5, showing the work
station as including a specialized tool.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 shows the environment of this invention. The back of an open
truck includes a standard bed 10, sidewalls 11, and wheel wells 12.
The truck further includes two work stations, one on each side. The
two work stations are similar, or they differ only incidentally, so
only the one on the right side of the truck, will be described.
The work station includes a frame 15 of vertical columns 16,
longitudinal horizontal rails 17, vertical braces 18, and crossbars
19. These members 16, 17, 18, 19 together form a rack which stands
on the truck bed 10. The rack is additionally supported by the
sidewall 11, and extends laterally over the sidewall 11. The rack
provides open spaces for placement of tool boxes, supply bins,
drawers and the like, as desired by the user.
In FIGS. 2 and 4, a first pivot arm 20 is pivotally connected to a
vertical column 16 by a pivot pin 21. A second pivot arm 20, not
visible behind the first, is similarly pivoted to another vertical
column 16 at the front end of the frame. The arms 20 are pivoted
for vertical movement. The pivot arms 20 extend outward of the
truck, and each of them includes a table support section 22 at its
outer end. The table support sections 22 are up out of the way, and
in a vertical attitude.
An end bracket 25 is mounted on an upper frame member, such as a
top crossbar 19. A second bracket 25, not visible behind the first,
is similarly mounted at the front end of the frame. An elongated
helical torsion spring 26 is mounted between, and anchored to, the
end brackets 25. The spring 26 is operatively connected by cables
27 to the pivot arms 20 to urge them toward the elevated position
shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The torsion spring 26 is typical of such
springs as are used with overhead garage doors to assist in raising
them, and to resist their coming down of their own weight. As in
the case of the garage doors, the torsion of the spring 26 is
adjustable to suit the load it is intended to carry.
In FIGS. 3 and 5, the pivot arms 20 are in their lowered position
and the table support sections 22 are in a horizontal working
position. The table support sections 22 support a work table
23.
"Work table" is intended as a generic term to include not only a
flat table but any useful apparatus which might be mounted on the
supports 22. Certain specialized uses are contemplated, such as a
brake for example. A brake is a machine tool for bending sheet
metal such as the sheeting materials used in house siding and
roofing work. A brake is typically 8 or 10 feet long and is a
rather massive tool. It is customarily carried on the back of a
truck and manually unloaded and set on the ground for use. At the
end of the work day, it is reloaded on the truck. The brake is one
example of apparatus supported by the support sections 22.
Stop pins 24 on both upper and lower frame members limit the upward
and downward travel of the pivot arms 20. In the raised position of
FIGS. 2 and 4, the pivot arms 20 are releasably secured in place
relative to the frame 15 by slide bolts 28 received in aperture 29
in the pivot arms 20 and apertures 30 associated with the frame
15.
In the raised position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the work table 23 is
up and in. That is, the work table 23 is retracted within the width
limit of the truck and suitable for road travel. In the working
position shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the work table 23 is at a
convenient height, like a work bench, alongside the truck.
As stated earlier, the pivot arms 20 and support sections 22 may
support a simple work table 23, or a brake, or some other tool.
Whatever the load, the torsion spring 26 is adjustable so that the
work table can be raised and lowered with one hand and very little
effort.
In FIGS. 6 and 7, the pivot arms 20 support a brake 30, which is up
in its storage position in FIG. 6, and down in its working position
in FIG. 7. The brake itself is known in the prior art. Its detailed
illustration and description are not essential for an understanding
of this invention.
The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of this
invention, including any dimensions, angles, or proportions, is
intended as illustrative. The concept and scope of the invention
are limited only by the following claims and equivalents
thereof.
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